wetlands

Another wet-into-wet painting, but this time with more challenges and a longer painting period. As before, 140# Arches CP paper.

The goal of this painting was to get away from trees and aim for seeing how using a very wet piece of paper could be worked for skies and water along with plant life, from rushes and grasses to distant trees. The style itself lends itself more to softness in general, but with judicious brushwork and glazes, more defined areas were achieved. I also used white gouache to represent a tasseled top to the tall reeds (or whatever) in the middle right of the painting; I realized I might have achieved an airier effect by splattering some frisket in the areas I wanted white.

I painted the majority of the picture last night, working glazes over areas more defined to blend them in more harmoniously. Dry brush was used for the the foreground and in areas where a rough edge was needed to show plants.

I don’t think this painting is as good as the one I did previously. The contrast is not good enough to convey distance – too strong of colors were used to paint the reeds and trees in the horizon. I do like the colors and softness, though. Another point of focus was to create a point of focus! I tried to use birds, warm colors in the center of the painting, a bit of a vignette around the edges, and other visual tricks to lead the eye somewhere. Again, I don’t think I had much success. As well, the sky and land do not seem to match.

I did accomplish a few things I set out to do – wet-into-wet with some control for sky and plants and water. Doing it is a lesson in itself, and each painting teaches something. I worked on the painting last night and then refined it this morning. I had more patience than I usually demonstrate when painting in watercolor. Why is that? Is it because watercolor is wet and watery and seems to demand a bit of speed?

Anyway, more to come, more to learn.

Wetlands at Low Tide

Nothing like a rather indecisive sky – sun? rain? nasty weather? A chilly autumn day as winter closes in on the wetlands leading to the sea.

Storm Over the Wetlands

Water and sky are the major themes these days. I really like them anyway, but have to work on reflections in particular. For instance, along the banks, the reflection of reeds is very important, as in the distant water / tree line. I try to be simple in my approach and perhaps a bit less dramatic or intense in my colors, but that seems to be really hard for me to achieve! I had a lot of fun with this painting, though, and am rather pleased with its outcome despite the fact it is not quite what I envisioned. But, it does catch that peculiar storm light, I think.

A Walk on the Wild Side

Ormond Beach

California is a land of contradiction. Los Angeles sprawls 50 miles south of where I live, and yet there are wetlands nearby that serve as rest stops for migratory birds. Locally, Ormond Beach, which is between the Seabee base in Port Hueneme, and the Navy base at Point Mugu. Currently, areas of the beach are closed off for nesting birds whose only nest is a shallow indentation in the sand, with eggs speckled to match.

Nature Conservancy Sign

Today, I met up with a number of people for a hike sponsored by the local Nature Conservancy, whose essential philosophy is to preserve wild places by buying land, and keeping people out. They have bought up and have had land donated for the Ormond Beach Wetlands Restoration Project. They also have other sites here in Ventura County, such as in the Santa Clara River, which is one of the last – if not the last – river in Southern California that has not been modified between its source and release into the Pacific Ocean.

Power Plant and Farmland

Recycling Plant

Power Plant

Coastal fog and overcast are normal for the California coast in May and June. It can be wet and drizzly and grey, while a few miles inland sunshine reigns. This fog is essential to many California environments, and while not fun to be in at times, it is really stunning in its own right. We live inland, so the sun is usually visible, but today, it has spread to our own valley. I left a slightly sunny inland valley to arrive to a drizzly, drippy beach. My glasses and camera lens had rain drops on them (I hope the camera will be okay – seems to be), and soon my clothes and hair were wet. Our starting point was a local recycling plant, at the end of a road, and we had views of the Halaco property, which is part of Superfund clean-up efforts . . . there are power plants here, visible across fields ready to plant. It’s a rather dreary place in the gloom.

Halaco Hill - A Superfund Clean-up Site

Our guides were knowledgeable about the area. While very flat, the plants and such could be a bit of a challenge to trudge through. We saw various birds, such as great blue herons, great white egrets, horned larks, terns, and snowy plovers, Flowers such as coastal lupine, beach morning-glory, dune primrose, and non-native species were also in bloom. We found animal toilets, where this animal and that pooped, leaving behind interesting scat filled with remains of pelagic crabs, feathers, and bones. Animal trails showed paw prints of coyotes, raccoons, herons, and other small birds.

Spider Web and Raindrops

Leaves

Primrose

Raccoon Print

Beach Flower

In a world increasingly damaged, the beauty and delicacy of the natural environment is accordingly threatened. Places such as Ormond Beach are a refuge for not only birds and animals, but for humans as well. I enjoyed this hike, and came home like a little kid, covered in mud and muck, soaking wet, and completely refreshed by a beautiful world and fun companions.

Anacapa Island